The start of the 2024-25 season marks a new phase of the Calgary Flames rebuild effort.
After a mass selloff that culminated in the exit of Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindhollm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Andrew Mangiapane, and Jacob Markstrom, Calgary’s current roster is considerably younger and less experienced than it was 12 months ago.
Their ambitions this year are more humble as well. Even after the ouster of Darryl Sutter and Brad Treliving, there was some lingering hope that the team would be able to retain its pending free agents and battle for a playoff spot in the West. Instead, all of the UFA’s departed and Calgary fell out of the playoff race early and never recovered.
As Flames management and fans start looking for green shoots amongst the rubble of the prior regime, some key questions marks come to mind on the eve of a new era.
Q: Can Dustin Wolf become an NHL starter?
The last time the Flames organization drafted and developed a starting goalie was Trevor Kidd. And before that, it was Mike Vernon.
Wolf is the organization’s best bet to beat their net-minding slump. An all-star and MVP level puck stopper at the CHL and AHL levels, the 23 year old would be a no doubt, blue chip prospect if he was about four inches taller.
With Markstrom playing behind the New Jersey Devils this season, Wolf will have the opportunity to grab the starter’s role and finally establish himself as a legit #1.
No one is asking Wolf to become an all-star out of the gates, but he could finally quell a lot of concerns about his size by by taking over the net ahead of Daniel Vladar.
Q: Which of the Flames rookies will surprise?
Craig Conroy promised that the team would make room for kids to make the team when he took the reins in 2023.
To prove him right, Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil unexpectedly emerged as quality NHLers last season, while a half a dozen of other youngsters also made their debut in 2023-24.
Thanks to the GM’s restraint in free agency, there should be as much (or more) opportunity for darkhorse hopefuls to establish themselves this year.
An early list of intriguing names includes Matthew Coronato, Samuel Honzek, Jeremie Poirier, Artem Grushnikov, and Sam Morton, amongst others.
Honzek is the biggest surprise so far. The 16th overall pick in 2023, Honzek suffered through a disappointing, injury-plagued season in the WHL where he managed just 31 points in 33 games.
For most 19 year olds that would spell another season in junior (at least) to grow and improve. Instead the 6’4″ left winger was one of the biggest performers in Calgary’s preseason, securing him a spot on the opening day roster.
It remains to be seen if he can maintain his uncanny turn around, but even a modest 10 game audition should be considered an incredible step forward for the player.
Q: Do any more of the Flames veterans get traded?
While most of the club’s marquee veterans have walked the plank, Conroy still possesses more than a few players who could attract interest on the trade market, depending on the appetite for the team and the player to maintain the relationship.
Top of the list is Andrei Kuzmenko.
The 28 year right winger was considered a cap dump by the Canucks as part of the Lindholm trade, but he exploded for 24 points in 28 games once he arrived in Calgary.
He’s not a defensive stalwart, but Kuzmenko flashed enough offensive flair as a Flame to potentially be in demand as a trade deadline acquisition. If he scores anywhere near the same pace this season, Conroy could ask for a tidy sum return for him in March.
Rasmus Andersson is the other player who could be in high demand. Although he has another year left on his contract after this one, a top pairing caliber defender who makes just $4.55 million a year would be on many GM’s wishlists.
Q: What happens to Jakob Pelletier?
Jakob Pelletier scored 27 goals and 62 points in just 66 games as a 20 year old rookie in the AHL back in 2021-22. Only veteran Matthew Phillips outscored Pelletier on the club’s farm team that year.
It’s been a rocky road for the left winger ever since. Chosen 26th overall in 2019, Pelletier suffered a terrible shoulder injury during preseason in 2023, and then was hurt again upon his return months later. He appeared in just 13 (rather tentative) NHL games.
The 23 year old did not stand out during preseason action and was sent down through waivers to the Calgary Wranglers (he was not claimed).
At this point, it’s fair to say that Pelletier will need to find a way to re-estblish himself as a prospect of note with the Flames system. Otherwise he risks being surpassed by the club’s new wave of draft picks.
Q: Where do they finish?
Calgary is a far cry from a contender at this point, but the organization has never officially admitted to “tanking” for a rebuild. There’s no doubt players, coaches, and staff would not be disappointed if the team pulled a Cinderella story and found their way into playoff contention.
Nevertheless, it would probably be better for the long-term health of the team if they simply gathered more draft picks and chose as high as possible at the draft in June.
In part because they still need to find more future stars (especially at the forward position), but also because they will lose their first round pick to Montreal if they finish any higher than 10th (a condition of the Sean Monahan trade).